Ball in general, life on the road… on this blog, either you do or you don't.

Tuesday afternoon tidbits: Mulder's clock could start soon

Greetings from Houston, where it’s warm, humid and hazy, and where the music is good but loud (Shiny Toy Guns, very nice).

* Mark Mulder will throw another extended spring training game tomorrow, and after that, he could begin a proper rehabilitation assignment with the next game after that. So that would be Monday, April 14, and from there he’d have a 30-day rehab clock.

* Skip Schumaker is back in the lineup and leading off, as expected.

* Jason LaRue is in at catcher, as Molina gets a day off — TLR just said “it’s a good game for LaRue to play.” LaRue and Thompson have seemed to work well together in spring and in Thompson’s first start, so that’s very likely the main factor. Both guys are 1-for-4 vs Chacon.

I enjoy reading your blog. Question for you: When Mulder comes back, who is likely to leave the rotation? I would assume it would be whoever is left between Wellemeyer and Thompson when Pineiro comes back. Thanks and keep up the good work.

So let’s assume that Thompson and Wellmeyer are sent to the pen when Pinero and Mulder come back.
What happens when Clement comes back?
That means three changes to the pitching staff.
And sooner or later Springer and Kinney and Johnson return. It will look like an entirely new staff.
McClellan would almost be certain to be sent down.
Villone? But he’s a lefty. Send Reyes down so he can pitch on a regular basis?
Detroit could use bullpen help.

The decision with Springer isn’t so difficult, since Jimenez was called up to replace him he would be sent down to make room for Rusty. It’s when Clement comes back that we need to make the big decision.

Now that the Pirates have released Matt Morris and given the Cards habit of signing players like him who are no longer effective and have been released by a club and are approaching 40 years of age, I can’t help but feel that the Cards will sign him. Please tell me that it ain’t so. The pitching staff in doing great. They don’t need somone like Morris who can no longing get the job done. Mulder is coming back soon, so we don’t need Morris, so please tell me that they won’t be foolish enough to sign him. Donald Gray

In my opinion, I don’t see any reason at all that the Cards would sign Matt Morris…I love the guy, but we have a bounty of starting pitchers as it is…why sign someone who can’t get it together if it means we would have to release someone? Only way, to me, any signing (of a pitcher, at least) would make sense is if Mulder and/or Carp can’t be effective when they return…

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